I am a Nutritionist (who counts Carrot Cake as one of my five a day) in London who is stamping stigma out of mental illness. Also interested in all things mental health related.
Follow me on Twitter: @mirandasmurmurs and Instagram: @mirandabunting

Monday, 28 September 2015

Since starting a new job with better working hours, I have pledged to do more for myself - especially now that I have more time off in the evenings. This includes going to bed earlier, always taking a good break at lunch time, not feeling guilty every time I buy something for myself (because I AM WORTH IT!), meditating whenever possible, learning to say NO, blogging more....On the subject of meditation and mindfulness, I am looking to do an 8 week course - there are plenty about but I am just looking for the right one that would be suitable...I have just discovered FLOW magazine, which sums itself up as -"Flow, a magazine that takes its time... Celebrating creativity, imperfection and life's little pleasures."

It is actually a Dutch publication that was dreamt up in an attic room several years ago. It's all about positive psychology, mindfulness, creativity and the beauty of imperfection. Just my thing. It is now so popular that they ship it all over the world and it is translated into lots of different languages... I ordered one of their "Special" publications, which was Flow Mindfulness.It is packed with interviews and quotes from experts in the field including Prof. Mark Williams, John Kabat-Zin and Ruby Wax.This edition cost £12.24 plus postage, which is not cheap but for something so beautifully put together and so full of information, I think it is well worth it. Am going to subscribe to the others I think.

Friday, 25 September 2015

Since I did graduate with a degree in Nutrition, I OUGHT to write more about healthy, nutritious food but it doesn't often happen ! I'm frequently looking forward to my next Cronut (not always but often!)Having said that, I could be considered as super boring because I don't smoke or drink (much) and plan every meal around vegetables and protein rather than carbohydrates.... So am actually quite healthy but do eat chocolate and other sugary delights....

I live round the corner from the Hummingbird bakery. In the above bag was a Salted Caramel Cupcake. Now in my tummy. I know - The yummiest thing in the world.I do prefer following Deliciously Stella rather than Deliciously Ella ...!And having looked back in my blog archive, I have in fact written a lot about food before: e.g. Jamie Oliver tackling sugar or William Leith and Michael Pollan on what makes us fulland more....I got particularly excited the other day when I received an email about the "Bee Free Box". This is a new venture set up by Clinical Nutritionist Angela Beecroft and her daughter Sarah. In their own words:"The Bee Free Box is free from many of the foods that, evidence suggests, may cause health issues for a large number of the population. Most dietary plans fail because people find it too difficult to stick to them... Bee Free Box aims to take the stress out of following a free from diet and makes it as easy as possible."My favourite recipe on their website is Courgetti Spaghetti Bolognese. The spiralizer that turns Courgette into Spaghetti is the best addition to my kitchen. So clever, easy to operate and works with lots of different vegetables... Their website is a wealth of info and the whole concept is such a clever idea.

Here is the recipe that accompanies the above video. I can confirm it is one of the yummiest things ever. Try it and tweet me a pic ?

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

If there was ever a way of summing up a glorious summer, then my friend Alice Norman has nailed it firmly on the head. You don't have to know the people in the video for it to make you feel uplifted. I watched the whole thing and couldn't stop smiling.

Friday, 18 September 2015

I can't help but feel like the luckiest person in the world. I live in Notting Hill - the all time greatest corner of London - and I work in Knightsbridge. I have to walk through things like Hyde Park and past things like Kensington Palace to get to work.

My walk to work:

My walk home:

I walked from home in Notting Hill last weekend all the way to Waterloo and this is the view that greeted me at Waterloo Bridge. Mind blowing.

Wednesday, 16 September 2015

There is a large hole in Notting Hill at the moment. Not because someone has dug yet ANOTHER basement.... But because the genius behind Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Comic Relief, Mr Bean, Vicar of Dibley and more has left the 'hood to go and do something quite remarkable in New York with the United Nations - and taken all his family and their pets with him....for a whole year (*sobs*) - I used to pass him on my walk to work and it was the best possible start to my day (right after also spotting the Beckhams). ***On September 25th 2015, 193 world leaders will commit to 17 Global Goals to achieve 3 extraordinary things in the next 15 years.End extreme poverty.Fight inequality & injustice.Fix climate change.The Global Goals for sustainable development could get these things done. In all countries. For all people.

This might be the shortest film that Richard Curtis has ever made but it is most definitely one of the very best -

Each goal carries equal importance and ALL of them must be achieved in order for the project and mission to work. My two favourites are probably the first two.

1. No Poverty and 2. Zero Hunger

If the goals are going to work, everyone needs to know about them. You can’t fight for your rights if you don’t know what they are. You can’t convince world leaders to do what needs to be done if you don’t know what you’re convincing them to do. If the goals are famous, they won’t be forgotten.

We can be the first generation to end extreme poverty, the most determined generation in history to end injustice and inequality, and the last generation to be threatened by climate change.

What can we do? Tell everybody. Spread the word. Talk about it at home / work / school. This is something the world needs to hear. If you are a football lover like me - do a Dizzy Goal. They are hilariously fun. ***Emma Freud is writing a hilarious and must-read weekly column in the Telegraph about their adventures. Don't miss it. The first column she wrote explaining why they were leaving was so moving. Her year of saying YES. I said it was their gap year but in fact they will be working harder than ever out there and not really resting at all.... For more Global Goals news: visit http://www.globalgoals.org/Let's help make this incredible / ambitious / genius project a global success.

Monday, 14 September 2015

We have all seen the photos and footage of three year old Aylan Kurdi lying dead in the sand. His body was swept up onto the beach having fallen off a small / overcrowded boat, which was intended to take him to safety.

If not - here it is:

It sparked an outpouring of worldwide sympathy for Syrians who have been welcomed to the "promised land" of Europe. The UK was accused of not doing enough or acting quickly.

Tonight I complained about the hot water not working properly in my new home. And then I watched this and realised I have SO little to complain about. So little.

We see you. We hear you. Help is COMING.I am drafting a blog post on the Global Goals - stay tuned!

Saturday, 12 September 2015

Yikes ! What a long time since my last blog post. It was a busy and fun summer - I ended up with a blissful 8 weeks off. More about that later. I have also had no proper internet as just moved house but am now back online....The reason for this blog post was to draw attention to the brilliant Amanda Palmer, who I am sure I have written about before. She did a powerful TED talk on the Art of Asking and then wrote an even more amazing book with the same title, which I read over the summer. She wanted to raise children's books for the New York Public Library so did something rather extraordinary to get people to come and donate. Watch the below video - its mind boggling. Her work is funded by people's monthly donations / pledges on Patreon and it is one of the greatest things I am able to support. It was the last thing she will do for a while as she is literally about to have a baby (she announced that with a beautiful kinda-naked picture of herself on Instagram).

PS She is married to Neil Gaiman.. As in THE awesome writer Neil Gaiman.